NEW

REGULATIONS
AND RULES FOR
ATEX DIRECTIVES
THE OPERATOR'S VIEWPOINT OF
THE EUROPEAN EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERE (ATEX) DIRECTIVE 94/9/EC

INCE 1 JULY 2003, TWO NEW EUROPEAN DIRECTIVES

S commonly called ATEX directives have considerably modified the rules

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for selection and use of equipment in hazardous areas. ATEX is a French
acronym for “atmospheres explosibles,” i.e., explosive atmospheres.
ATEX Directive 94/9/EC (see reference (1))(also sometimes referred as 100a/95), some-
times called the “product” directive, affects the manufacturers. ATEX Directive
1999/92/EC, (see reference (2)) sometimes called the “user” directive, affects the workers.
This article deals only with directive 94/9/EC, since this directive
applies to products that exist in an oil and gas company under the respon-
sibility of the electrical, instrumentation engineers. Directive 1999/92/EC
(also sometimes referred as 118/137), which applies to users and defines the
minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of
workers, is under the responsibility of the Safety division (HSE). Yet there
is a link between the two directives, and the technologist engineer cannot
ignore the “user” directive.
These new ATEX directives are called the “New Approach,” a new
method for the total harmonization of regulations covering this field.
The approach aims to ensure free movement of the products to which
©ARTVILLE, LLC. it applies by removing barriers to trade. It also aims to improve the
safety of products and users.

BY PATRICK LEROUX 43

1077-2618/07/$25.00©2007 IEEE
 The New Approach concept was built upon in the
early 1980s for application in the year 2000. Today,
about 20 European directives based on the New
Approach concept are in force. The main advantage of
the New Approach is that it is no longer necessary to
make an adaptation to technical developments
(amendments to standards, standards harmonization,
new directive, transposition in national laws) in order
to keep up with technical developments. In the past
with the old directive (“Old Approach”), it was neces-
sary to update the directive to transpose it into
national laws after an amendment to standards since
the application of the European CENELEC standards
(each of them describing a type of protection: d, p, i,
e) was imposed by the directive. These procedures
generated a lot of red tape!
Situation Prior to 1 July 2003 (The Old Approach)
1) European regulations concerning electrical equip-
ment for potentially explosive atmospheres were
based on European directives, which require regu-
lar modification in the form of application or adap-
tation to directives to keep up with technical
developments.
2) The basic European text in this field was the
76/117/EEC directive, which provided the general
framework for regulations to allow the free circula-
tion of goods within the European Union (EU).
3) Electrical equipment for use in potentially explo-
sive atmospheres were certified by a state-
approved body, often referred to as the
“laboratory,” when it met the relevant European
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standards (EN 50014 and upwards) covering
each type of protection (d, i, e, p, etc.). Such
equipment was then issued a European certificate
of conformity, entitling it to carry the distinctive
Epsilon x mark. This mark opens the way to
trading within the EU and even on occasion out-
side this territory.
4) This system had been in operation for many years.
Although largely beneficial, it has certain draw-
backs, notably a lack of flexibility and the absence
of a global concept of safety. It is going to be con-
siderably modified by the new European directive
94/9/EC published 23 March 1994. Application
of directive 94/9/EC before 1 July 2003 was made
on a voluntary basis but has been mandatory since
this date in all the EU and European Free Trade
Association (EFTA) countries.Certificates of con-
formity to harmonized standards obtained in
compliance with previous directives remains valid
until 30 June 2003, but their validity will only
cover conformity to the harmonized standards
specified in these directives.
5) The system of certification relating to the
76/117/EEC directive—with a “certificate of con-
formity” for equipment in strict compliance with
CENELEC standards and an “inspection certifi-
cate” for equipment not strictly in accordance with
CENELEC standards but offering at least a degree
44
of safety—is no longer valid.
Situation after 1 July 2003 (The New Approach)
ATEX Directive 94/9/EC Summary
The directive can be summarized as follows.
Framework
This directive
■ makes no direct references to standards
■ defines essential health and safety requirements
(EHSRs)
■ applies to electrical and nonelectrical equipment
■ applies to environments that are potentially explo-
sive due to gas and dust hazards
■ takes into consideration all potential hazards that
equipment may cause, in particular at the design
and production levels
■ applies both to mines susceptible to fire damp and
surface industries
■ recognizes the European Standards Committee
(CEN) and the European Committee for Elec-
trotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) as compe-
tent bodies to define the required harmonized
standards
■ defines procedures for the assessment of conformi-
ty to essential requirements, on the basis of mod-
ules that qualify equipment to carry the CE
marking, which is the passport for sale into
EU/EFTA countries.
Comparison of the Old and New Approaches
Equipment no longer must be in compliance with a series
of CENELEC standards as under the Old Approach, but
now must satisfy EHSRs. This is the spirit of the “New
Approach” directive, and this is a major change. In short,
it can be said that with the new directive, there is an
obligation of results (to meet the EHSRs) and not of
means (application of imposed standards). Any standard
may be used provided that it meets the EHSRs.
The new directive has introduced a global concept
for safety (risks other than electrical risks are now
included, such as high surface temperature on pipes
and mechanical friction). It also has introduced the
surveillance of manufacture periodically to ensure that
the certified product continues to comply with the
requirements of the directive.
The application of the harmonized CENELEC stan-
dards gives only a presumption of conformity to the direc-
tive, whereas in the past it was considered as full
conformity. The list of harmonized CENELEC standards is
published in the European Community (EC’s) official jour-
nal. When harmonized standards do not exist, other stan-
dards may be applied according to an internally approved
list [between all the Ex notified bodies (NBs)] with an
order of preference.
ATEX Directive 94/9/EC
What Type of Equipment Is Affected by ATEX?
1) Equipment: machines, including internal combus-
tion engines, apparatus, fixed or mobile devices,
control and instrumentation components, etc.
 2) Protective systems: explosion relief systems, flame
arresters, etc.
3) Components: items essential to the safe function-
ing of equipment and protective systems but with
no autonomous function, including terminals, push
button, relays, empty flame proof enclosures, ballast
for fluorescent lamps, etc.
4) Safety, controlling, and regulating devices:
devices intended for use outside potentially
explosive atmospheres but required for the safe
functioning of equipment or protective systems
with respect to the risk of explosions (controller
units for sensors temperature, pressure, flow, gas
detectors, power supply to an EEx “i” measure-
ment system used for monitoring process para-
meters, etc.).
Another example of a safety device largely used
in Europe is the protection relay (installed in safe
area) for an EEx “e” motor that must be certified
because it must trip with a tripping time below
the Te time defined by the standard EN 50019. If
the tripping time occurs above the Te time, the
rotor will reach an internal temperature above the
authorized temperature class T, generally
= 200◦ C in oil and gas production activities.
This means that the motor may cause an explo-
sion because it has not been designed to with-
stand to an internal explosion.
This is not the case for an EEx “d” motor. Here
the protection relay need not be certified because if
the relay fails to trip, the motor will reach an inter-
nal temperature above the authorized temperature
class T, which may cause an explosion. Yet the EEx
“d” motor has been designed to withstand to an
internal explosion; this is the major difference
between “d” and “e” motors. (Also, the cost of a
“d” motor is approximately double that of an “e”
motor.) These safety devices were not covered by
the old directive.
What Type of Equipment Is Excluded by ATEX?
■ medical devices intended for use in a medical
environment
■ equipment and protective systems where the explo-
sion hazards result exclusively from the presence of
explosive substances or unstable chemical substances
■ equipment intended for use in domestic and non-
commercial environments
■ personal protective equipment covered by the
89/686/EEC directive
■ seagoing vessels and mobile offshore units, such
as semisubmersible platforms and drilling jack
up platforms, already covered by the Interna-
tional Marine Organization (IMO) convention.
(Fixed platforms are included in the scope, as
well as Floating, Production, Storage, Offload-
ing (FPSOs) units and units and vessels (below
500 t) not intended for high seas (navigation on
river, lakes, etc.)
■ means of transport, except for vehicles intended for
use in a potentially explosive atmosphere.
Nonelectrical Equipment
ATEX Directive 94/9/EC also applies to nonelectrical
equipment (mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic
equipment). Nonelectrical equipment include single
pieces of equipment (pump, valve), combined equipment
(such as an explosion protected forklift), and assemblies
(packages such as a pump driven by a motor fitted on a
skid associated or unassociated with auxiliaries). All of
these configurations are within the conformity assess-
ment procedures.
Process areas (chemical, refinery) and complete produc-
tion plants are also assemblies of equipment. They are con-
structed from numerous pieces of equipment, but they are
not placed on the market as a product and are not subject
as a unit to conformity assessment procedures. Yet it is
possible to “certify” a complete plant as a unit (as per
Annex IX of the directive), but on a voluntary basis and
not by law.
Potential and effective ignition sources shall be
assessed, including the ignition risks that arise from dust
or other material trapped between fixed and moving parts.
New types of protection have been defined in a new
series of CEN standards, EN 13463-1 to -8, as follows:
■ Basic methods and requirements EN 13463-1
■ “fr” Flow restricting enclosure EN 13463-2
■ “d” Flame proof enclosure EN 13463-3
■ “g” Inherent safety EN 13463-4
■ “c” Constructional safety EN 13463-5
■ “b” Control of ignition source EN 13463-6
■ “p” Pressurisation EN 13463-7
■ “k” Liquid immersion EN 13463-8
The type of protection outlined in “c,” constructional
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safety, is particularly directed towards mechanical equip-
ment (pump, compressor, fan, gear, etc.). One important
aspect is that good equipment construction can keep the
probability of faults that could lead to the ignition
sources so low that the equipment meets the require-
ments of the relevant categories. This means that this
type of protection may be used for all categories, even for
category 1. Yet, if this is not sufficient to meet the cate-
gory 1 requirements, another type of protection may be
included. It is worth noting that the essential require-
ments may also be met without the application of the
above harmonized standards.
For many decades, mechanical equipment has been
used extensively in Europe, the United States, and else-
where in hazardous areas without causing damage. Of
course, some accidents have undoubtedly occurred.
Although it is recognized that the risk is generally low
for mechanical equipment installed in hazardous areas, the
“European lawyer” of the European Community (today
gathering 25 European countries) has decided to include
mechanical equipment in ATEX 94/9/EC due to potential
friction and overheating. Although many pieces of
mechanical equipment are inherently safe (such as water
pumps, air compressors in a Zone 2, etc.), the manufacturer
is obligated to demonstrate this safety. It is said by many
users that the “European lawyer” has decided to use the
“safety principle” pushed to the limit (as in no risk).
Ex mechanical equipment is now available on the
45
market. In order for many pieces of mechanical
 equipment to be used in a hazardous area, nothing
must be changed and the manufacturer need only make
a risk analysis to prove that there is no risk. In some
cases, a few modifications must be made (e.g., adjunc-
tion of temperature detectors).
To the author’s knowledge, no similar standards
for mechanical equipment exist in the American reg-
ulations (NEC, etc.), but it cannot be said that Amer-
ican design of plant facilities is not safe. Are
Europeans being excessively (and unnecessarily) strin-
gent in this field?
Dust Explosion Protection
ATEX Directive 94/9/EC also includes dust as an explo-
sive atmosphere. When standardization works started for
the dust ignition protection (DIP), it was assumed that
dust explosion protection for electrical apparatus would
be mainly achieved by tight enclosures and limitation of
surface temperature. For this reason, the degree of pro-
tection Protection Index (IP) played an important role.
The relevant IEC standards include the IEC 61241
series, while the CENELEC standards include the EN
50281 series. The symbols originally intended for dust
explosion protection/DIP have been replaced by tD,
pD, iD, and mD, where D stands for dust ignition pro-
tection t stands for tight, and the other symbols (p, i,
m) correspond to similar, but not identical, types of
protection for gas.
The prevention of ignition hazards caused by electro-
static discharges in Zone 21 is particularly important for
dust explosion protection.
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ATEX Zones and Categories
The ATEX directive classifies equipment into categories
depending on the level of safety requirement, the nature
of inflammable substances, and the degrees of presence or
duration of the explosive atmosphere. This classification
is summarized below, with the required level of protec-
tion and correlation with the code of hazardous areas
commonly used worldwide.
The link between the hazardous area (zone) and the cat-
egory of equipment is defined in ATEX Directive
1999/92/EC (Annex IIB).
The various categories (1, 2, 3) of equipment must be
capable of functioning in conformity with the operational
parameters established by the manufacturer to a certain
level of protection. In all cases, the equipment remains
energized and functioning in the designated zone.
Caution!
For gas atmospheres:
Zone 0 requires category 1 equipment.
Zone 1 requires category 2 equipment.
Zone 2 requires category 3 equipment.
For dust atmospheres:
In the zone 22 area, conductive dust requires category 2
equipment and IP6X protection. In the zone 22 area,
nonconductive dust requires category 3 equipment and
46
IP5X protection.
Potential Ignition Sources and Other Hazards
to Be Controlled
The following represent potential hazards:
■ various sources of ignition, such as sparks, flames,
electric arcs, high surface temperatures, acoustic
energy, optical radiation, or electromagnetic waves
■ static electricity
■ stray electric and leakage current
■ overheating (friction, etc.)
■ pressure compensation operations
■ disturbance from external sources, such as overload-
ing, faults, changing environmental conditions, extra-
neous voltage, humidity, vibrations, or contamination
■ software (fault in the program)
■ power failure
■ connections (conduits and cable entries).
Provisions are also made for specific requirements gov-
erning devices used to provide additional equipment
safety.
These requirements necessitate detailed analysis to
assess the operational reliability of such devices and their
interaction with other components connected with the
equipment.
Conformity Assessment Procedures
(Certification and Surveillance)
There are various conformity assessment procedures,
depending on equipment group and category, that enable
the manufacturer to declare that the equipment and protec-
tive systems comply with Directive 94/9/EC (see Figure 1).
Equipment—Group II/Category 1
The manufacturer must follow the EC type-examination
procedure to affix the CE marking, in conjunction with the
procedure for production quality assurance or the procedure
for product verification. All these procedures are under the
Notified Bodies (NB’s) control and responsibility.
The EC type examination is the procedure by which an
NB ascertains and attests that a specimen representative of
the production envisaged meets the relevant applicable
provisions of the directive.
Equipment—Group II/Category 2
In the case of internal combustion engines and electrical
equipment, the manufacturer must follow up the EC type-
examination procedure with the procedure for conformity
to type or the procedure for product quality assurance.
For other equipment (nonelectrical equipment), the
manufacturer must follow the procedure related to inter-
nal control of production and communicate the resulting
technical dossier to an NB, which shall acknowledge
receipt of the dossier and retain the document.
Equipment—Group II/Category 3
The manufacturer must follow the procedure for internal
control of production. The technical dossier must be avail-
able for possible authorities to review, but does not have to
be communicated to the NB.
In addition to the procedures mentioned above (for
categories 1–3), the manufacturer may also follow the
procedure related to CE unit verification. The above
procedures are also applicable to components, with the
exception of the affixing of the CE marking.
■ As a general rule, for electrical equipment, if each prod-
uct cannot be individually inspected, the NB performs
an EC type examination and then periodically ensures
the conformity of equipment manufactured by means
of a production or product quality assurance audit.
■ The conformity assessment for equipment in group
II, category 3 (surface, zone 2/zone 22 application)
permits CE marking without intervention of an NB,
i.e., via the internal control of production.
All other procedures, essentially health and safety proce-
dures, rely on the expertise of the NBs to provide the
guarantee that the EHSRs have been met. This is not the
case for category 3. Greater responsibility is, therefore,
placed on the manufacturer.
Documents of Conformity
Documents Issued by the Manufacturer
EC Declaration of Conformity
Once the manufacturer has undertaken the appropriate
procedures to assure conformity with essential require-
ments of the directive, it is the responsibility of the man-
ufacturer or his authorized representative established in
the community to draw up a written EC Declaration of
Conformity for each manufactured product. In this decla-
ration, the manufacturer or his representative declares
that the explosion-protected equipment placed on the
market complies with all EHSRs. The undersigning of
the EC declaration by the manufacturer or his representa-
No piece of equipment can be put on the market if the
manufacturer cannot deliver to the client the EC Declara-
tion of Conformity.
The declaration must include the following information:
■ the name or identification mark and the address of
the manufacturer or his authorized representative
established with the EU
■ a description of the explosion-protected equipment
(mark, type, serial number, etc.)
■ all relevant provisions fulfilled by the equipment
■ where appropriate, reference to the harmonized
CENELEC standards
■ where appropriate, the national or international stan-
dards and technical specifications that have been used
■ where appropriate, references to other European
directives that have been applied
■ where appropriate, the name, identification number,
and address of the NB and the number of the EC
type-examination certificate
■ identification of the signatory who has been empow-
ered to enter commitments on behalf of the manu-
facturer or his authorized representative established
within the EU.
Written Attestation of Conformity for Components
In addition to declaring the conformity of components
with the provisions of the directive, the Written Attesta-
tion of Conformity must state the characteristics of the
components and how the components are to be incorporat-
ed into equipment or protective systems to ensure that the
finished equipment or protective system meets the applic-
able EHSRs of the directive.

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tive authorizes them to affix the CE marking to the
equipment (it is not permitted to affix the CE marking Documents Accompanying the Product
to components). The EC Declaration of Conformity/Written Attestation

Serie Equipment
Examination
Prototype
Equipment Quality Assurance
Examination
Production Q.A.
EC Type Annex IV
Category Examination Or
1 by NB Product Verification
Annex III Annex V

Product Q.A.
Electrical EC Type Annex VII
Equipment Examination EC Declaration
and Internal by NB Or of Conformity
Combustion Engine Annex III Conformity to by Manufacturer
Category Type Annex VI
2
Internal Control
Nonelectrical of Production Communicate
by Manufacturer the Technical
Equipment Dossier to NB
Annex VIII

Internal Control
Category of Production
3 by Manufacturer
Annex VIII
1
47
Certification procedures in relationship with equipment category.
 of Conformity must accompany the information given
with each single product or batch of products.
All equipment or protective systems must be accompa-
nied by instructions that shall include
■ repeat of the marking on the equipment,
■ instructions for safe use and placement into service,
■ assembly, dismantling, and maintenance instructions,
■ indication of danger areas,
■ characteristics of special tools, and
■ all relevant drawings.
All of these instructions shall be translated into the lan-
guage of the country where the equipment is installed.
This is applicable to all the EU countries.
Documents Issued by the NB
The NB shall deliver to the manufacturer an EC type-
examination certificate, including the name and address of
the manufacturer, conclusions of the examination, and the
necessary data for the identification of the approved type.
In addition, the NB shall also issue the following qual-
ity surveillance documents, according to the provisions of
the relevant conformity assessment procedures:
■ production quality assurance notification
■ product verification certificates
■ conformity to type notification
■ product quality assurance notification
■ unit verification certificates.
These documents need not accompany the product.
Marking of Equipment
Three types of markings are provided (see Figure 2):
■ CE marking: ATEX 94/9/EC, as well as the New
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directives which all provide for the affixing of the
CE marking, the marking indicates that the prod-
uct is presumed to conform to the provisions of all
these directives stated in the EC declaration of
manufacturer’s equipment.
The CE marking is mandatory and must be
affixed before any equipment or protective system is
placed on the market or put into service. The CE
marking is followed by the NB number, which is
related to the quality assurance of the manufacturer.
■ Supplementary marking: Equipment, protective sys-
tems, and components must bear the specific mark-
ing of explosion protection, the Epsilon x in a
hexagon, which is already known from the old
explosive atmospheres directive.
This marking must be followed by the symbol
of the group (II) and category (1, 2, or 3) of the
equipment and the letter G (concerning explo-
sive atmospheres caused by gases, vapours, and
mists) and D (concerning explosive atmospheres
caused by dust).
■ Additional marking: Equipment, protective sys-
tems, and components must be marked with all
the necessary information essential for safe use.
The European standard series EN 50014 for elec-
trical products foresees a supplementary marking:
" the EEx symbol, which indicates that the prod-
uct is in compliance with one or more stan-
dards of this series.
" the symbol for each type of protection (o, p, d,
q, e, ia, ib, m, n).
" explosion group II A, II B, or II C in case of

Approach directives, provide for the affixing of the type of protection d, i, or q.

CE marking as part of the conformity assessment " temperature class or maximum surface tem-
procedures. Where a product is subject to several perature.
■ Any equipment or protective
system accompanied by the
Example for Marking EC declaration of conformity
and bearing the CE marking
CE Marking Supplementary Marking Additional Marking as specified by the directive
Cε0081 εx II 2 G EEx d IIC T4 is considered by the member
CE Marking states to be in conformity
with EC Directive 94/9/EC.
Identification of the Notified Body Complementary Marking It does not indicate a certain
Responsible for the Approval. Specifying the Type of
0081 = LCIE (Example)
level of quality!
Protection ■ Components do not carry
The European Commission Mark CE marking but must be
for Ex Products EEx: Manufactured in Accordance covered by a Written
with CENELEC Standards. Attestation of Conformity.
■ Equipment bearing the CE
Equipment Group: II for Surface Ex: Manufactured in Accordance
Industry (I = mines) with IEC Standards.
conformity marking that
presents a safety risk is
Equipment Category: d: Mode of Protection : withdrawn from the mar-
1 for Zone 0 or 20, Explosion Proof. ket and prohibited by the
2 allowed for Zone 1 or 21 member states under a
3 for Zone 2 or 22 IIC: Apparatus Group. specified procedure.
■ If equipment bearing the CE
Atmosphere Surrounding the Equipment T4: Temperature Class.
G for Explosive Gas (D for Dust)
marking is found to be not
in conformity, action is taken
2 against those responsible for
48
Marking as per ATEX directive 94/9/EC. applying the marking.
Selection of Explosion-Protected Apparatus
Link Zone/Category
ATEX Directive 1999/92/EC (Annex IIB) gives the
authorized category of equipment (1, 2, 3) in relation
with the type of zone (0, 1, 2) where the equipment is
installed, with a misleading shift between zone and
category (category 3 for zone 2!) (see Table 1).
The benefit of having introduced categories in the direc-
tive is that, in the future, if a new type of protection is
offered by a technology development, there will be no need
to revise the directive. The corresponding standard for this
new type of protection shall indicate in its foreword the cate-
gory to which it applies. This would not have been possible
with the old directive, which referred to specific standards; a
revision of the directive would have been necessary.

Link Category/Type of Protection Variable Speed Drives

The link between category and type of protection is given
in the corresponding CENELEC standards. The foreword
states that this European standard covers essential require-
ments of ATEX Directive 94/9/EC and provides protec-
tion in accordance with category (1, 2, 3, M1, or M2).
For a given category, several types of protection are pro-
posed by the CENELEC standards (e.g., category 2 allows
for “d,” “p,” “e,” etc. protection type; category 3 allows for
“n” protection). It is up to the end user to select the appro-
priate type of protection.
The updating of the CENELEC standards to incorporate
the requirements of the 94/9/EC directive has allowed the
introduction of rules for selection of motors associated with
frequency converters (in the old directive, almost no such
rules existed). Depending on motor type, whether or not
the frequency converter is of the same manufacture as the
motor, and whether or not combined tests are required,
additional devices may be required, such as thermistors to
limit the motor surface temperature to a safe level. Also, for
“d” motors, installation rules are precribed for motor

TABLE 1. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EQUIPMENT CATEGORY AND ZONE.

Presence or
Duration of
Category of Level of Protection Inflammable Explosive Correlation with
Group Equipment Faults to Allow For Substances Atmosphere Hazardous Areas
ATEX 94/9/EC ATEX 94/9/EC ATEX 1999/92/EC ATEX 1999/92/EC ATEX 1999/92/EC
Equipment M1
Group I M2
(Mines)

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Equipment 1 Very high level of Gas, vapours, Continuous Zone 0, 1, 2 gas
Group II protection mist, dust presence
(Surface) ------------
Two types of Long periods Zone 20, 21,
protection or two 22 dust
independent faults,
Rare faults Frequent
allowed for
2 High level of Gas, vapours, Likely to occur Zone 1, 2 gas
protection mist, dust
------------
One type, level Zone 21, 22 dust
of protection
Frequently occurring
disturbances, or
faults allowed for
3 Normal protection Gas, vapours, Unlikely to occur Zone 2 gas
------------ mist, dust
Required level of Present for a Zone 22 dust
protection for short period
normal operation 49
 cabling to limit bearing currents, harmonics, and Electro-
magnetic Compatibility (EMC) emissions. Motor loadabili-
ty curves must sometimes be certified by an NB. Also, a
second rating plate must be fitted on the motor frame.
ATEX Directive 1999/92/EC
ATEX Directive 1999/92/EC aims to improve the health
and safety protection of all workers potentially at risk from
explosive atmospheres and to ensure that workers enjoy a
minimum level of protection thoroughout all member
states. Duties are placed on the user (employer). There was
no similar directive in the past (Old Approach).
The employer’s duties can be summarized as follows:
■ prevention of the formation of explosive atmos-
pheres, avoidance of ignition sources, and mitigation
of detrimental effects
■ explosion risk assessment (likelihood of explosive
atmospheres, persistence, ignition sources, sub-
stances used, and scale of the anticipated effects)
■ classification of hazardous areas into zone 0/1/2 and
20/21/22
■ training of workers
■ written instructions and permits for work
■ explosion protection measures (appropriate working
clothes in dust areas of nonelectrostatic type, escape
facilities, etc.)
■ warning signs for locations where explosive atmos-
pheres may occur
■ preparation of the explosion protection document
(EPD), including all the above provisions, for
possible review by authorities
■ ensuring all hazardous area workplaces used for the
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first time after 30 June 2003 comply with the
appropriate minimum requirements of ATEX
Directive 1999/92/EC
■ ensuring all existing hazardous area workplaces in
use before 30 June 2003 comply with the appropri-
ate minimum requirements of ATEX Directive
1999/92/EC no later than 30 June 2006.
It is ATEX Directive 1999/92/EC in its annex IIB which
gives the relationship between zone and category.
The Operator’s Viewpoint
ATEX Directive 94/9/EC opens the door to innovation
since any standard may be used, removing technical bar-
riers to trade and allowing free movement of products.
The product has to meet “only” EHSRs. The con-
formity assessment to the directive is made by an NB
only for category 1 and 2 equipment. Category 3
equipment (for zone 2 area), which represents about
80% of the equipment installed in the hazardous areas
at the operator exploration/production facilities, may
be self certified by the manufacturer, and this is per-
haps a source of risk as greater responsibility is placed
on the manufacturer.
Manufacturers installed outside Europe, through their
authorized representative installed in the community, are
authorized to affix the CE marking, which is the passport
to Europe. There is the possibility of fraud from not very
scrupulous foreign manufacturers or their authorized rep-
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resentatives, who may be the importer and who may not
hesitate to affix the CE marking to a product for which
compliance with the EHSRs is questionable.
It is the author’s opinion that there is a risk for decep-
tion of the end user. The directive has made some provi-
sions for possible deviations and has provided for sanctions
against guilty manufacturers, but this is not enough to
comfort the end user.
To avoid deviations made possible by the directive, the
following provisions have been implemented.
Operator’s Requirements
1) Category 3 electrical equipment shall be required
to be “certified” by an NB. No “self certificate” by
the manufacturer through internal control of pro-
duction shall be accepted. The document produced
by the NB in these conditions is called a “state-
ment of compliance” or “type examination certifi-
cate” and not a EC type-examination certificate (as
for category 1 and 2 equipment).
2) An EC type-examination certificate shall be requested
from the manufacturer for any category of equipment
(not required by the directive), in addition to the EC
declaration of conformity (required by the directive).
This document indicates, in particular, restrictions of
use (if any) and often provides useful information.
3) Only CENELEC standards (harmonized or not)
shall be recognized. IEC standards shall be accept-
ed, provided they are identical to the CENELEC
ones, which is not the case today. The new genera-
tion of CENELEC standards incorporate the ATEX
directive requirements. IEC and CENELEC stan-
dards should become identical in the future, thanks
to the Dresde agreement, using a “copy and paste”
procedure between IEC and CENELEC standards.
The existing CENELEC standards EN 50014 and
upwards are going to be repealed and replaced
gradually by the EN 60079 series, identical or very
similar to the IEC 60079 series. Other standards
shall be subject to formal operator approval.
4) When the manufacturer is not very well known by
the operator or when there is some doubt about the
quality/safety of the proposed product, then,
depending on equipment category, a “production
quality assessment notification” (for category 1) or a
“product quality assurance notification” (for cate-
gory 2) shall be required by the operator from the
manufacturer. These documents have been delivered
by the NB to the manufacturer after successful
audit at the manufacturer’s works. The provisions
made by the ATEX directive for quality audit at
the manufacturer’s works are new and are credited
by users with granting better confidence in the
quality of products. Yet, it is regrettable that noth-
ing has been provided for category 3 equipment,
which includes many bulk materials (junction
boxes, sockets, and luminaires), perhaps because the
explosion risk is considered lower. This is not in
line with the aim of the directive, which is to
increase the level of safety.
5) For mechanical equipment (rotating equipment
such as pumps, compressors, fans, gears, valves,
 etc.) in categories 2 and 3, self certification by
the manufacturer shall not be accepted. As for
electrical equipment, a statement of compliance
issued by an NB shall be required. For category 2
mechanical equipment, the ATEX directive
requires that the manufacturer communicate to
the NB the technical documentation to be kept
only as archive and opened only in case of need.
It is rather surprising that the NB has not been
requested to verify the content and validity of
the documents submitted by the manufacturer.
Experience being limited in this domain for all
involved parties, the input of the NB would
surely have been beneficial.
6) Application inside the EU countries is obviously
mandatory.
7) Application outside the EU countries has been made
mandatory by the operator’s decision for the follow-
ing reasons:
" Most of the manufacturers apply the ATEX direc-
tive requirements and propose products as “ATEX
certified.”
" Several American manufacturers of packages (such
as turbo generators) are able to handle the new
ATEX directive.
" It is difficult for the operator to accept two differ-
ent standards/regulations originating in different
countries (inside and outside Europe).
" If the new ATEX directive was not applied outside
Europe, the only way to “certify” equipment
would be to accept a Certificate of Conformity to
IEC standards (the old directives being repealed,
no certificate based upon the old CENELEC stan-
dards can be obtained). Today, most of the manu-
facturers produce equipment in conformity with
CENELEC standards.
Apparently, the ATEX directive is becoming a de
facto international standard rather than solely a
European one, as many non-European countries rec-
ognize the ATEX directive.
8) The operator is surprised with the number of NBs,
which has rapidly increased, going from a dozen to
about 55 today! Many newcomers are unknown by
the majority of users, and the number of NBs is
going to increase in the near future with the enlarge-
ment of the EU. The operator wonders whether the
competence of all these NBs will be identical,
although it is so on paper! No sufficient harmonized
practices can really be expected between all these
NBs, and cost for the “same service” may be quite
different without the guarantee that the expected
safety level for Ex-certified products is actually met.
At last, it must be remembered that each NB is
responsible for a list of selected products and for cer-
tification modules according to a certain number of
annexes in the directive.
Conclusions
With all the above additional precautions to make sure
that there is no deviation from the spirit of the directive,
the ATEX 94/9/EC Directive shall be applied worldwide
at the operator’s exploration/production facilities
(onshore and offshore).
A major effort is still to be carried out for employee
training at the head office and at production sites in the
operator’s various affiliates. This includes not only the
electrical and instrumentation engineers, but also the
mechanical engineers.
The topic is not closed; many discussions are still in
progress with various partners, including public authori-
ties. Although several documents have been prepared by
the European Commission to be used as guidelines for
users in addition to the official texts, there are still grey
areas for users (valves, variable speed drives, mechanical
equipment). In France, a special committee (CLATEX)
with Industry and Department of Labor representatives
answers questions raised by users and manufacturers.
Attaining the answer often becomes a project, and some-
times the question must be discussed at the European
Commission level.
Also, some “trade documents,” which are practical
guides for the ATEX directive implementation, have
become available, while other documents are under
preparation per branch of activity (chemical industries,
refining, etc.).
For the future, the IECEx scheme, which is an interna-
tional certification scheme under development and discus-
sion by several countries, might bring a solution to avoid
recertifying/retesting regardless of previous assessments
due to national standards and certification schemes. How
the ATEX directive conformity assessment procedures
could be integrated in this IECEX scheme—to get at last
a single and unique worldwide certification scheme—is
IEEE INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS MAGAZINE • JAN|FEB 2007 • WWW.IEEE.ORG/IAS
still a question to be discussed.
Yet, it seems that the IECEX scheme would be more or
less a “copy and paste” of the ATEX directive. Again, it is
regrettable that, as for the ATEX directive, nothing has
been provided for category 3 equipment as far as quality
audit at the manufacturer’s works is concerned.
The ATEX directives open a new era with the concept
of the “New Approach.” They open the way to innova-
tion, with standards no longer being technical barriers.
More responsibility is now placed on the end user for the
proper selection of equipment and, perhaps, of NB. This
is in line with a general trend found in other domains,
where the responsibility is more and more on the end
user’s shoulders, regardless of the technical provisions that
have been taken. A greater vigilance for the next two to
three years is advisable to allow all the involved parties to
become familiar with all of the new concepts.
References
[1] ATEX directive 94/9/EC, “European Directive 94/9/EC (23/03/94) on the
approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning equipment and
protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres”.
[2] ATEX directive 1999/92/EEC, “European Directive 1999/92/EEC
(16/12/99) on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health
protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres”.>
Patrick Leroux is with TOTAL Exploration/Production in
Paris, France. This article first appeared as “The Operator’s
Viewpoint of the ATEX Directive 94/9/IEC” at the 2005
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Petroleum and Chemical Industry Conference.